Nothing like a rocket launch in the early morning to inspire and wake you up. The 4 Million Newtons of thrust and a weight of over 500 tons gives a nice blast of power to your morning that coffee never could. I am talking about the Atlas V rocket that launched on September 2nd, carrying a US Navy communications satellite up into orbit.
There is a lot happening in this medium exposure photo. The rocket blasts off in a bright flash, then climbs into the atmosphere, where its exhaust plume becomes a noctilucent cloud, illuminated by the Sun that hasn’t risen yet. Finally, to the right side of the photo lies a bright star-like object that is actually Venus rising in the early September morning.
What a brilliant scene to wake up to. Grab a coffee, sit outside, and enjoy the long weekend!